Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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Randy Mamola won his third Grand Prix of the season after dicing with teammates Raymond Roche and Ron Haslam, Mamola wins final _1984 Grand Prix By Nick Harris MUGELLO, ITALY, SEPT. 2 Randy Mamola clinched his third Grand Prix victory of the season at San Marino in a battle with Honda teammates Raymond Roche and Ron Haslam that matched the scorching Mugello weather. The trio consistaotly swapped positions and banged fairings before Roche reluctantly 16 settled for second and Haslam third. "I didn't think it was that hairy," said Mamola after setting the fastest lap. "The only dodgy moment was when I went outside of Roche with. out him knowing I was there. I was also sliding about because 1 had a harder back tire than the other two." World Champion Eddie Lawson was content with fourth on his Marlboro Yamaha after a long tussle with Belgian ace Didier de Radigues (Chevallier Honda) while Rob Mc- Elnea finished sixth on the Heron Suzuki Project 500. "I guess I was just a lillie too relaxed," smiled Lawson after 24 energy-sapping laps round the 3.25mile circuit in the hills above Florence. But neither Haslam nor McElnea complained of being at ease during their rides in the scorching sun. "That was" a hard ride and I think I'm riding well at the moment and 1 just hope that Honda feels the same way," explained Haslam, whose Honda contract is up for renewal at the end of the year. McElnea, who is still not fully fit following his crash while practicing for the French Grand Prix, pulled through after a bad start to race through the field. "I felt ill out there in the heat," said McElnea, who finished overall 11 th in the world in his first year of grand prix racing. "It's the most strerluous race I've ever taken part in." Haslam led from the \jne but his Honda teammates were not as'fortunate. The organizers would not let Wayne Gardner start on his Honda Britain machine after breaking two fingers in a crash during practice, while Takazuki Katayama retired with ignition problems on the first lap. The Honda trio of Haslam, Roche and Mamola, riding the NS500 threecylinder machines, raced away fl-om their pursuers to fight their own private ballie at the front. At one time Mamola almost took to the grass trying to ride round the outside of Roche and twice touched fairings with the Frenchman as they fought tooth and nail for the lead. Haslam took his turn at the front but in the closing stages back-markers and a front brake problem halted his progress and at the finish he was content to settle for third and the nearest cold tap. Lawson finally overcame de Radigues to clinch fourth while McElnea, after a disappointing practice period that saw him qualify down in 18th position was really £lying and taking on the Italians on their home territory. He relegated Leandro Becheroni (Suz) and former World Champion Franco Uncini (HB Suz) to seventh and eighth respectively with Dutchman Boet van Dulmen ninth on his' private Suzuki. West German Manfred Herweh won a thrilling 250cc race on his Rotaxpowered Real after battling for the lead with Japanese star Terio Fukuda (Yam), former World Champion Carlos Lavado (Yam), new World Champion Christian Sarron (Yam), Swiss ace Jacques Cornu and West German Martin Wimmer. Sarron was out after only seven laps with water leaking into the cylinder of his Sonauto Yamaha. Californian Wayne Rainey had already retired with a slipping clutch on his Marlboro Yamaha, but teammate Alan Carter was racing through the field and battling with four times World Champion Toni Mang (HB Yam) until, on the 11 th lap, he crashed while trying to pass the German. "His bike was fast but he wasn't and it was difficult to get by and I chose the wrong corner and lost the back end," explained Carter, who had his hand in plaster after the race after dislocating a finger. Both Wimmer and Fukuda had their turns at leading until Herweh made the extra power of his machine tell round the demanding circuit. He took the lead but Lavado was fired up and would not let him get away. They exchanged the lead several times with Fukuda also getting amongst them. Wimmer" and Cornu were pushed back as Spaniard Sito Pons drove his Kobas forward to catch the leading trio and when German Harold Eckl also joined them at the front a tremendous battle was assured. Pons started to lose power and was passed by Wimmer and Cornu, who was celebrating the birth of his baby daughter the previous day, with only five laps remaining Eckl also slipped by to challenge for the lead. Herweh and Lavado held on at the .front with Fukuda closing fast but on the last lap Eckl, who had passed Wimmer, crashed into Fukuda while trying to slip through on the inside, It was a horrifying accident and Eckl was lucky to walk away unhurt as Fukuda was rushed to. hospital